Our Verdict

The updated Saucony Guide 10 is the successor to the Guide 9; this shoe is as comfortable as the earlier versions, and still boasts an enhanced flex in the forefoot, with a slightly tighter fit in the toe box. The 10th addition to the Guide series by Saucony is a supportive ride that can take you the distance. The Guide 10 is versatile on a variety of harder surfaces and responds well in varied conditions. This contender offers middle of the line stability and style, complete with a flare of feminine shape and design.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison

Able to withstand the cold in winter weather with fewer sewn overlays than other shoes we tested.

Responsiveness

The Guide 9 had a feature called EVERRUN; EVERRUN was such a hit when it was rolled out for the first time last year, that it carried over to the Guide 10. The technology, also found in the Saucony Hurricane ISO 2, sits closer to the foot, delivering the necessary feedback via the landing heel to toe transition (during the gait cycle). The sole unit of the EVERUN provided plenty of responsiveness and did not drain our energy return. This contender is a reliable and stable ride that while snugger in the toe box, offers up a similar feel to the Asic Gel-Cumulus.

With the midsole adding a fair amount of support while also providing awesome cushioning, this responsive shoe had us enjoying the balance that they offered during every run. The most responsive pair we tested was the Salming Race 3; due to their light design, more contact was provided, resulting in a shoe in which less was more. The Salming Race 3 is great for exceptional response on short jaunts; however, on long distance missions, we found ourselves turning to the Guide 10 for its smooth transitions that could be found from heel to toe.

Landing Comfort

The Guide 10 has a 8mm offset that is the same as the Saucony Hurricane ISO 2; this drop made for a classic ride that distributed impact evenly and right on target. Impacting the ground with absorption on contact was what testing indicated made for a consistent gait cycle - that didn't leave us limping home. The blown rubber, which extends towards the mid-foot, combined with the flex grooves and the heel crash pad, allowed for a comfortable landing, as well as a hop in our step. Both of the Saucony shoes tested didn't score exceptionally high in the landing category, as other shoes tested, such as the Brooks Ghost 10 - Women's and HOKA ONE ONE Bondi 5, had better absorption overall, and thus, a higher evenness underfoot.

We felt that the shortcoming of the Guide 10 in this metric could be a result of the snugness in the toes, which caused some issues in managing our landing impact. These shoes do run small; sizing up a ½ size will help in heightening the shoe's comfort. Comparable to the Guide 10, and scoring the highest in this metric, the Brooks Glycerin 14 - Women's came out on top for its comfort on contact as a cushioned natural running shoe. While the Guide 10 may not be the highest scoring pair of running shoes in this metric, it is also is not the lowest, either. We did like the overall feel of these shoes.

Blown rubber that extends towards the midfoot combine with wavy flex grooves on the sole.

Upper Comfort

We ranked the seamless upper of the Guide 10 with a score of 7 in regards to its upper comfort. The upper material was comparable to the upper of the Asics Gel-Cumulus 18, complete with zero stich overlays, and only a couple of noticeable FlexFilm overlays. The Guide 10 was seamless and flexible, except for some feeling of tightness in the toe box as a consequence of the molded toe bumper. The FlexFilm upper is an incredibly lightweight material and the added engineered mesh provide stretch, adjusting to the form of the mid-foot quite nicely. The FlexFilm is this contender is similar to what we found in the Bondi 5 upper of Lycra ComfortFrame; both had a light, yet present feeling. Another similarity between the Bondi 5 and Guide 10 was their constrictive toe boxes. The smaller toe boxes that can be a plus for those with narrow feet can quickly become a negative for those with wide feet.

Stability

With every foot strike comes the possibility of error, with our preference being that we remained uninjured. The Guide 10 will keep you honest on every run, helping runners obtain a higher level of balance when moving forward during a gait cycle. Our running remained clean, as the Guide 10 had just the right amount of stiffness and support, similar to that of the Editors' Choice winner, the Brooks Ghost 10 - Women's. The cushioning distributed our impact evenly, and the medial post (a hard piece of foam in the insole) added extra support in an effort to prevent injury (as a result of a misstep).

The Guide 10 offered more stability and medial support than its brand member, the Saucony Hurricane ISO 2. The Guide 10 provided more medial support than the Asic Gel-Cumulus 18, and kept the foot secure and stable, locking the heel in place. The support that these shoes provide is sure to give any runner an air of confidence to go harder and longer.

Stiff responsive shoe

Durability

You can expect to log many miles in this contender, with its similarity to some of the other road trainers we tested, such as the Editors' Choice Brooks Ghost 10 - Women's. Saucony has crafted a seamless upper with a nice design, combined with a denser durable feel that outperforms earlier versions. If a more durable shoe strikes your fancy, we recommend taking a peek at the Editors' Choice winner the Brooks Ghost 10 - Women's or the Bondi 5; both scored well in the durability metric and have well-constructed designs that are made to last.

Breathability

We looked to this shoe when the temperatures dropped and we needed a contender that could keep our feet dry. The mesh venting released moisture without letting the outside element penetrate and the adaptable and lightweight FlexFilm molded to the upper's side, offering high-quality performance no matter the temp. If you live in a cold environment and need a shoe with support, the Guide 10 can do the job. The Books Glycerin 14 and Nike Air Zoom Structure 20 ensure exceptional breathability, capturing the heat on cold days, while still allowing the heat to escape when temperatures spike.

Saucony flexable moves well with the foot and is breathable, but still keeps the foot warn in cold temps.

Weight

Coming in at 8.9 ounces, the Guide 10 doesn't hold you back. Lighter than other similarly crafted shoes, such as the New Balance-860 V7 and the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 18, the lightweight material of the upper has fewer layers. Fewer layers ensure that breathability is adequate, allowing the shoe to breathe, while weighing in at just over a half pound. The Guide 10 is a light shoe that will not add significant weight to your legs, even when the miles start to add up.

Best Application

From a short after work road pounder to a weekend-long distance run that racks up the miles, this competitor is a go to trainer that can get you through almost anything.

Value

The Guide 10 presents a great value, ringing in at $120. Scoring a consistent 6-7 across the board, this pair of running shoes scores above average for their overall performance.

Conclusion

The Guide 10 displayed many exceptional qualities during testing, scoring well when compared to the award winning Brooks Ghost 10 - Women's and Brooks Glycerin 14. This pair of running shoes dished out an even ride and provided a high level of comfort on every run. We think this contender is an excellent deal, especially if you're in the market for a workhorse or everyday trainer.

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